.......The speaker went on to refer to the badge of office presented that evening. He conceived the idea of such a badge* some three or four months ago, when he was told that the King would probably visit Cardiff this year to open the new dock and new Town Hall and Law Courts, and lay the foundation-stone of the College buildings. He (the speaker) thought it would be an opportune occasion for the recognition of their Society. He first addressed Lord Tredegar, and was met in the most kindly manner. He then approached Lord Windsor, a past Mayor of their borough, and a lover of their art: from him also he received a very encouraging reply. Lord Bute, whom he next proposed to approach, being on his way to South Africa, he addressed himself instead to Sir W. T. Lewis, who had done so much good work for Cardiff, and met with a favourable response from him. He should wear the badge during the remainder of his term of office with pride, and he trusted that no one who in time to come would have the honour to wear it would disgrace it.

*Description of the Badge.–The Badge, which is the generous and joint gift of the Right Hon. Lord Windsor, the Right Hon. Lord Tredegar, and Sir William Thomas Lewis, Bart, to the Cardiff, South Wales, and Monmouthshire Architects’ Society, is of solid eighteen-carat gold, of Gothic design, embodying shields in enamels in true heraldic colours, the arms of Cardiff, South Wales, and Monmouthshire, surmounted by the Prince of Wales’e feathers in platinum. On either side of the shields are instruments and tools emblematical of the architectural profession, with a scroll-ribbon in enamels at the base bearing the name of the Society, the whole being surrounded by oval-shaped scrolls with inserted patras and edged with carved crochets, and suspended by links to caps of two carved and sunk columns to a miniature seal of the Royal Institute. It is fastened around the neck by royal blue ribbon secured at the back with a gold Gothic clasp. On the back of the Badge is the following inscription, viz.–“ Presented to the Cardiff, South Wales, and Monmouthshire Architects’ Society by the Right Hon. Lord Windsor, the Right Hon. Lord Tredegar, and Sir William Thomas Lewis, Hart. The presentation was made on behalf of the donors by John Belcher, Esq., A.B.A., President of the R.I.B.A., 14th March 1905; Cholton James, F.R.I.B.A., President.” On the back of the miniature seal is inscribed: “Allied with the Royal Institute of British Architects 1898.” The Badge is the design of the President, assisted and supplied by Mr. W. H. Maton, jeweller, of Cardiff.

Source: Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects - 25th November 1905

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, James Trotter Barry and Edwin Barry, carrying on business as Jewellers, Silversmiths, Opticians, Watchmakers, and Dealers in Fancy Goods, at Numbers 8 and 9, Duke-street, in the city of Cardiff, under the style or firm of JAMES TROTTER BARRY AND SONS, has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from this 30th day of September, 1907. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said James Trotter Barry.–Dated this 30th day of September, 1907.

A jeweller named Cornelius Griffin,, of Stepney street, who was recently granted exemption and ordered to join the V.B., asked at the meeting of the Borough Tribunal on Thursday that he should be excused from joining the V.B.

The Chairman (Coun M. R. Richards) Have you attended any V.B. drills since August last ?

Appellant: No, not once.

The Chairman: Well. what is the position if a man does not join the V.B. when ordered to do so ?

Mr. D. Jennings: The position is that if Mr. Griffin does not join the Y.B. within the next week he will have to join the Army.

The Clerk: When you asked for exemption first of all did you apply to he excused the V.B. ?

Appellant: Yes.

The Clerk: And they refused your request ?-Yes.

Mr. Jennings: The application is not in order. You cannot be asked to waive a condition that he has not brought about.

The Chairman (to appellant) Your present application appears to be against the decision of this Tribunal; you can only appeal to the County Tribunal.

Appellant: Is it fair for me to be compelled to close my business while my competitors are allowed to keep open ?

The Chairman: We cannot enter into that. What you should have done was to apply to the County Tribunal. I don't see how we can sit in judgement on the decision of our own members.

FOLK LORE OF WALES (Sept. 5, 1883.)– Charm to Cure Fits. The newspapers last month (Aug. 1883) copied from one another the following paragraph, which, as far as I am aware, exhibits a novel method of curing fits :–" A Bangor jeweller was last week entrusted with the manufacture of a charm to cure a young girl, resident in Anglesey, from fits. Twelve persons unknown to each other and the object of the collection, subscribed one penny each ; another person, also in the dark, changed the twelvepence for a shilling, which was entrusted to an old woman, also ignorant of the object of the charm, to accompany the afflicted girl to Bangor, where the shilling was punched out into a ring, to be worn on the third finger of the right hand. The girl told the jeweller that seven years ago she had a ring manufactured in the identical circumstances. Although afflicted with fits from childhood, she was free from them so long as the ring was worn ; but, having lost it, the fits returned. The girl said that nothing but a ring out of the shilling would keep off the fits."

THE PORT TALBOT JEWELLERS. Attention is drawn to the fact that the well known jewellery and watchmakers' business of the late Messrs. L. Beha and Co., of 12a, Station-road, Port Talbot, and also of 28, Dunraven-place, Bridgend, is now exclusively carried on by the English partner, Mr. Edmund M. Needham, who has been connected with the business for over 34 years. Mr. Needham will continue to conduct the business, and will be glad to see old and new patrons.

Wrexham jeweller Edwin Owen's claim to fame came during Her Majesty Queen Victoria, accompanied by Her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice, royal visit to North Wales in August 1889. The enterprising Mr Owen had the forethought to design and have stuck a gold medal to commemorate the event, which he presented to Queen Victoria. He had the medal struck in a variety of metals for sale to the general public.

Re Robert Pugh Davies.–A meeting of the creditors of this debtor, who traded as R. Davies and Son. Dwyed House, Blaenau Festiniog, watchmaker and jeweller, was held at the offices of the official Receiver, Chester, on August 8. The debtor having absconded he was adjudicated a bankrupt, and Mr. Poppleton. C.A. general manager of the Wholesale Traders' Association, Birmingham, was appointed trustee, with a committee of inspection. A large portion of the liabilities are due to creditors in Birmingham and Coventry.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 2nd September 1889

Blaenau Ffestiniog was a boom town in the 1860's/1870's with its population reaching 12,000 in the 1880's. By 1890 it was in depression due to the sharp decline of the slate industry.

Re George Henry Best.–This debtor, a jeweller and watchmaker, carrying on business at 27, Talbot Street, Cardiff, was examined last month before Mr. Registrar Langley. He had previously failed in 1885. and obtained his discharge. His deficiency now was Â£178. He attributed his failure to speculating in Allsopp's shares, by which he had lost Â£180. The shares of other great breweries had gone very well, but so far as he was concerned at least, Allsopp's was a failure. The examination was closed.

Source: The Watchmaker, Jeweller and Silversmith - 1st June 1889

BANKRUPTCY

Re George Best.–At the County Court. Cardiff, on August 21. George Best, a jeweller, formerly carrying on business in St. Mary Street, then Queen Street, and finally of the High Street Arcade, appeared for his final examination. The Official Receiver stated that the assets would only produce 1d. in the Â£. His Honour granted the debtor his discharge, but suspended its operation for eighteen months.